By Bill Dickens
MaxPreps.com
For those who prefer the passing game, this one’s for you.
When Scripps Ranch (7-3) hosts Westview (9-2) in Friday’s (Nov. 28) Division II CIF-SDS football quarterfinals, the football is certain to spend plenty of time in the air.
To be sure, it will be a shootout, pitting the San Diego Section’s top two passers – Michigan bound Robert “Tate” Forcier (177-of-259, 2,990 yards, 21 TDs) of Scripps Ranch and Westview junior Tommy Hansen (185-of-338, 2,703 yards, 25 TDs).
"It is certainly going to be exciting, almost like the Fourth of July," Westview coach Mike Woodward told The North County Times.
It could be said that Westview, a school that has never won more than six games in a season, is more hyped up by taking on Scripps Ranch than the Falcons are in hosting the Wolverines.
Perhaps, it’s a matter of confidence. Forcier has not thrown for less than 225 yards and for as many as 524 this season.
Hansen has passed the 300-yard mark in three games with a best of 388.
Given its overall performance during the regular season, Scripps Ranch is definitely poised for a high-scoring game. The Falcons come in averaging 39 points, while allowing 35.4.
Westview is a tad more conservative. At least the Wolverines have made a stronger showing on defense, permitting just 22.8 points per starts compared to their 35-point scoring average.
A touch of irony is Westview posted a 38-0 romp over Hoover – its first shutout since a 24-0 blanking of Scripps Ranch in 2004.
Unheralded Hiller hero
Grossmont High’s Valentino Hodgson, a 6-foot-2, 147-pound (that’s right, lanky) senior, saved the Foothillers’ 23-21 first round CIF-SDS Division II playoff victory when he intercepted Bonita Vista’s bid to tie the game on a two-point conversion pass with 1:38 remaining. Earlier in the game, Hodgson blocked a PAT kick.
“When I first took over the team I watched all of the game films from last year,” said the Foothillers’ first-year head coach Ron Murphy. “All I saw this tall, skinny guy doing was playing on the kickoff team because Grossmont had so many talented seniors. I was hoping we could get more out of Hodgson this year, and he’s making plays all over the field for us.”
Frequent freeway miles
Three times in the past six years Spring Valley’s Steele Canyon has been obliged to open the CIF-SDS football playoffs against the Imperial Valley League’s best with a lengthy road trip. Vying in the land of sand and cactus has apparently agreed with the Cougars, who ran their desert record to 3-0 with a 33-20 nod over Central Union Friday (Nov. 21) in El Centro.
Once flat Fallbrook scores prime time win
Football season was over before Thanksgiving Day at Fallbrook the previous two seasons when the Warriors finished a combined 2-18. Things have livened up a bit this year, and spiked when Fallbrook (5-6) stunned heavily favored Mira Mesa 17-13 to advance past the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Division I playoffs. It was Fallbrook’s first post-season win since 2003.
Patrick Henry finds victory trail
William Dabbert rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries leading Patrick Henry (8-3) to a 28-20 CIF-SDS opening round Division II playoff win over Santee’s West Hills (6-5). It was the Patriots first post-season victory in more than a decade.
Other Top Performances
— Senior outside hitter Katie Fuller notched 16 kills and two aces in a 3-0 sweep of Poway in the semifinals and posted 15 kills and three blocks in a 3-2 win over Torrey Pines, leading La Costa Canyon to its sixth straight CIF-SDS Division I girls volleyball championship.
— Cathedral Catholic sophomore Gabi DeSimone needed 2 ½ hours to earn her second straight CIF-SDS tennis championship, as she edged San Marcos junior Lacey Smyth 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9-7).
— Senior Elizabeth Apgar, who won her first two championships for San Diego Calvary Christian and her last two for Lincoln, is the third runner to capture four consecutive CIF-SDS cross country titles.
— Carlsbad collected its sixth consecutive CIF-SDS Division I boys’ water polo championship, paddling past Vista 5-3 in the finals Saturday (Nov. 22) at UC San Diego. Vista reached the title game four of the past six years, but has not won a section title since 1977.
— Kendra Bills of Torrey Pines led the Falcons to the CIF-SDS field hockey crown with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 overtime victory over San Pasqual in the championship game.
Coming attractions
Boys basketball season in the CIF-SDS section tips off on Monday (Dec. 1) with the Eagle-Vaquero Classic. An early look at the area powers rate San Diego High, led by 6-foot-10 Jeremy Tyler as the No. 1 team. Hoover is tabbed No. 2 and Division V state power Foothills Christian of El Cajon is ranked No. 3.
Dickens Dealings
One of the oldest football rivalries in the San Diego Section will be renewed when La Mesa’s Helix (8-1-1), the No. 3 seed in the Division II playoffs, hosts Grossmont (5-6) Friday (Nov. 28) in a quarterfinal contest at the Highlanders’ Jim Arnaiz Field.
In years past, these teams met on an annual basis, playing for the perpetual Musket Trophy, which has been displayed in the Helix library for the majority of the last three decades. The series began in 1951 when Helix swung open its doors, and the teams faced off annually until 2002 when the schools changed leagues.
What once was East San Diego County’s biggest prep football attraction, drawing crowds in excess of 10,000 at (now defunct) Aztec Bowl on the San Diego State University campus, has largely lost its glitter.
This long-time rivalry has become one-sided. Although Helix owns an all-time 33-18-2 series advantage, the Highlanders have posted a 26-1-2 record over the last 29 meetings.
Some say Helix has gained a major advantage because it gained charter school status. Others claim the Highlanders are recruiting quality athletes under the radar, yet there is no proof to substantiate that accusation.
While the Foothillers are looking forward to their holiday feast, they haven’t lost sight of their future.
“I know people probably don’t give us a chance against Helix,” Grossmont senior linebacker Conor Meredith said. “But they need to realize the last two games have been really close.”
Indeed. Helix eliminated Grossmont 23-17 in the 2004 semifinals on a rainy night in double overtime. Two years later, the Scotties posted a 20-16 win.
“We welcome the challenge,” Meredith said. “If we want respect we have to beat the best. Now we have that opportunity."
